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The South Sudan hospital bombing on May 3, 2025, killed at least seven people and injured over 20, including staff and patients inside the facility. The hospital—run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF)—was the only functioning medical center in Old Fangak, serving more than 110,000 people.
Two helicopter gunships and a drone carried out the attack, destroying the hospital’s pharmacy and wiping out all medical supplies. Among the dead was a 9-month-old child.
Takeaway: A key healthcare facility in a crisis-stricken region was obliterated, leaving thousands with nowhere to turn.
How the Attack Unfolded
Around 4:30 a.m., two helicopters opened fire on the town, striking the MSF hospital directly. The assault lasted roughly 30 minutes. Later, at around 7 a.m., a drone bombed the nearby market—spreading panic and causing further casualties.
The South Sudan hospital bombing forced mass displacement as terrified residents fled the area, many of whom had already been displaced by recent floods.
Takeaway: The strike triggered a dual crisis—physical destruction and civilian flight.
MSF: “Blatant Breach” of International Law
Doctors Without Borders condemned the South Sudan hospital bombing, labeling it a “blatant breach of international humanitarian law.” They emphasized that the hospital was clearly marked and its GPS coordinates had been shared with all parties involved in the conflict.
The destruction of the pharmacy left more than 100,000 people without access to life-saving medicine. MSF demanded an immediate end to such attacks and renewed calls for the protection of healthcare services in war zones.
Takeaway: MSF says the bombing defied the laws that protect civilians and medical infrastructure.
Escalating Conflict Behind the Attack
Old Fangak is a stronghold of the Nuer ethnic group, historically aligned with opposition leader Riek Machar—currently under house arrest. Tensions between Machar’s supporters and forces loyal to President Salva Kiir have been growing.
Western embassies, including the U.S., warned of an unraveling peace process. This South Sudan hospital bombing adds to fears that government-led assaults are intensifying in opposition-linked regions.
Takeaway: Ethnic and political fault lines are driving a surge in violence—and hospitals are now in the crossfire.
No Official Explanation
So far, South Sudanese officials have not acknowledged or explained the attack. Witnesses and local leaders suggest government forces were behind the strike, but no group has claimed responsibility.
The targeting of a hospital—despite its known coordinates and protected status—raises urgent concerns about the erosion of humanitarian safeguards in conflict zones.
Takeaway: With no answers and no accountability, the risk of more hospital bombings remains dangerously high.
Bottom Line
The South Sudan hospital bombing isn’t just a tragedy—it’s a warning. In one morning, a crucial healthcare facility was wiped out, and with it, the only hope for thousands. If hospitals are no longer safe, no part of civilian life is.
